Gas-machine.



I. SGHMITT & J. W. NEUMANN.

GAS MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 5A3.10,1907.

906,940. Patented Dec. 15, 1908 a, 6 efaknJZYl/umzut, 2 1? W UNITED sTArEsi-i arENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK SGHMIT'T AND JOHN W. NEUMANN, OF ST. LOUIS,1ISSOURI; SAID NEUMANN ASSIGNOR TO SAID SGHMITT.

GAB MAOHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK SoHMrrr and JOHN W. NEUMANN, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in Gas-Machines, of which the 'ollowing is a specification.

This inyention relates to gas machines, and especially gas machines of the class in whicha liquid hydrocarbon is volatilized and mixed with air to produce a combustible gas.

It has for its principal objects to provide for a complete volatilization of the liquid; to provide for a thorough mixture and up regnation of air with the resultant vapor om such volatilization; to provide for the absor )tion of moisture from the mixture of air an vapor; and to embody all these features in a compact and efficient apparatus which is simple in construction and easily operated and controlled. l i

The invention consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompan ing drawing which forms part of this speci cation, and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, is illustrated an apparatus embodying our invention, the same being shown in vertical section. v

The apparatus com rises a tank 1 which is preferably cylindrica This tank is divided into compartments or chambers. The u per chamber 2 constitutes a reservoir from w ich the volatile liquid is fed to the carburetor. At the bottom of the tank 1 is a chamber 3 which is adapted to receive any overflow or drippings from the carbureter. Above the chamber 3 is a series of carbureting or mixing chambers 4 and 5. These chambers are s Jaccs between a plurality of screens 6 and 7. he screens 6 are conical, and the screens 7 are slightly dished or of inverted cone-shape. These screens are preferably thin sheets of woolen or other suitable cloth fabric which will absorb liquid such as is generally used in gas machines of this character, and of amesh sufficiently open to permit the passe e of air therethrough. The screens 6 may e supported by any suitable open framework, but it is preferable to use a wire screen 8 of large mesh so that the under surface of the l fabric 6 is uniformly exposed to the action of the air within the a paratus. The screens 7 are simply attache to rings 9 which are secured within the tank 1. These screens 7 are made full so that they will sag slightly at the center. The rings 9 which are provided for all the screens 6 and 7 are fitted tightly in the tank andengage the same entirelyaround.

A pipe 10 is attached to the tank 1 and communicates with the reservoir 2 near the bottom thereof. This pipe is turned downwardly and is provided with a valve 11. Below the valve 11 the ipe 10 opens into a transparent tube or sig t-feed 12 through which the movement of the liquid to the carfireter ma be observed. A ipe 13 is connected to the si ht-feed 12 an extends into the tank 1. T e pi e 13 terminates centrally above the upp rmost screen 6 and is provided with an L-exitension 14.

The pipe 13 empties into a seepan 15. The pen 15 has a slightly conica bottom and is preferably provided with an. annular series of small a ertu'res near its circular wall through whib the liquid seeps onto the screen 6. If desired, the bottom of the pan 15 may be perforated throughout, or made of wire gauze. Absorbent materlal 16 is laced in the seepan to take up the liquid as it is discharged rom the pipe 13. Thus the liquid ercolates through the material andseeps rom the pan instead of etting therefrom. The li u1d which seeps from the an 15 is absorbed b the uppermost screen abric 6, and any li u1d not taken up thereby, will trickle down t e upper face of the conical screen towards the edge thereof, where it will seep through and drip upon the ed e of the ad acent screen fabric 7 and be a sorbed thereby. Should'there be a further su rplus of liquid the same will trickle towards the center of the sagging screen 7 seep through and drip upon the apex portion of the next adjacent screen fabric 6, and-so on to the over ow or drippings chamber 3.

An air-sup ly-pipe 17 extends into the tank 1 near the upper ortion of thechamher 3. At its inner end it is provided with an n turned L-extension 18 which 0 ens into t e mixing chamber 5 between the owermost screens 6 and 7. A conical deflecting cap 19 is mounted above the L-extens1on 18 to prevent an liquid from entering the pipe 17 and to deffect the air radially as it 18 d1scharged from the supply pipe. A valve 20 is provided in the pipe 17 to control the pass e of air therethrough.

he air entering the tank will move upwardly, followi the direction indicated by the arrows in t e dra and pass out through the gas-pipe 21. he vaporization of the volatile liquid takes place on surfaces of the several screens, and the vapor bei of a specific gravity heavier than air wi have a tendency to hang close to the upper surfaces of the screens, and the reatest amount of va orization will take p ace on the under su aces of said screens. -Thus, the vapor has a tendenc to move towards the bottom of the ta The upwardlymoving air will resist and become impregnated with the downwardly-moving vapor, and thereby a combustible mixture is so plied to a gas-chamber 22 just beneath t e reservoir 2.

By passing the air through the particular construction of screens herein set forth, instead of over the surfaces as has been the usual practice, a perfect mixture of air and vapor is effected. The air being compelled to ass through the screens causes a more rapid volatilization of the liquid, and by opposin and assailing the downward movement 0 the vapor, a much lower ade of hydrocarbon li uid may be used in t e pres ent apparatus than can be ordinarily used in arrangements of apparatus now generally em loyed. I

nterposed between the mixing chambers and gas storage chamber is a series of spaced drier screens 23. These screens are preferably made of a woolen fabric similar to the fabric of the screens 6 and 7, or of any other suitable material which will absorb moisture. The mixture of air and vapor is passed through these screens and it enters the chamber 22 free of moisture, and the resultant roduct which is supplied to the gas main is dried to such an extent before it enters the pipes that condensation in the pipes is therey prevented. Any surplus moisture or condensation collected by saiddrier screens will trickle towards the center thereof and there seep through and drip downward from screen to screen into the carbureter chamber.

A suitable valve 24 is provided in the pi e 21 for controlling the outlet of gas fromtiie chamber 22. An equalizer-pipe 25\ communicates with the said chamber 22 and extends into the reservoir 2 to a point near,

vent-pipe 2? is provided was a valve 2%.

A pump-cylinder comprising a tube 29 extends transversely through the tank 1. At one end. this tube communicates with a pipe 30. This pipe 30 connects the vent pipe 27 with the lower portion of the overflow-chamber 3, and it is provided with two suitable check-valves 31 and 32 which 0 en towards the reservoir 2. The check-va ves are arranged one above and one below the connection with the pump-tube 29, and thus when the plunger 33 is reciprocated by the rod 34 any liquid which may be in the chamber 3 is pumped up into the reservoir 2. The pump rod 34 is provided with a handle 35, and a removable casing or cover 36 is land on the end of the tube 29 over the andle when it is not in use to prevent leakage.

By the construction and arrangement herein set forth an apparatus is produced which is compact, and simple and efiective in operation. All gradesof the well known volatile hydrocarbons may be used in the present apparatus and a low grade can be used with good results.

Obviously, my device admits of considerable modification within the scope of my invention, and therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gas machine comprising a tank, a reservoir in the upper portion thereof adapted to contain a V0 atile hydrocarbon liquid, a carbureter below said reservoir, said carbureter comprising a plurality of s aced absorbent screens of thin sheet fa ric fitted tightly at their edges to said tank, a seeppan above the up ermost of said screens, a

eed-pipe arrange to discharge the liquid from said reservoir into said seep-pan, a supply-pipe arranged to discharge air beneath said screens, and an outlet-pipe arranged to discharge mixed air and vapor from said tank above said screens, said seep-pan containing absorbent material and having perforations in its bottom.

2. A gas machine comprising a tank, a reservoir in the up er port1on thereof adapted to contain a v0 atile hydrocarbon liquid, a carbureter below said reservoir, said carbu reter comprising a plurality of spaced ab sorbent screens fitte tightly in said tank, a pipe arranged to discharge the liquid from said reservoir onto the top of said screens, a sight-feed in said pipe, means for regulating the flow of liquid through said sight-feed, a pipe arran ed to discharge air beneath said screens, a eflector above the discharge opening of said pipe, a plurality of s aced absorbent drier-screens above sai carbureterscreens, and a pipe arranged to discharge mixed air and vapor from said tank above said drier-screens.

3. A g-as maehme seinrising a tank, a re ervoir in the up er portion thereof adapted to contain a v0 atile hydrocarbon liquid, a carbureter below said reservoir, said carbureter comprising a plurality of spaced absorbent screens, a saanpan above the u ppurmost of said screens, a pipe arranged to discharge the liquid from said tank ixto aid seepan, means for regulating the flow of iiqui( thmughsaid pi c, an air- :ipe arranged to discharge into tic tank iwnmdh said screens, a deflector mountvd ovur Hm dis charge and of said airipe, and aria dad to deflect the dinrlmrgmi air rmliaiiy, :1 uralitfy q of absorbent (i]'i(k-S(l'l(-llfi ahnvn said uarbui reteiuscrcom, a pipe arranged n disvhargv mixed air and vapor from said tank above said drier-screens, an overflow-chamber below said carburetm'screens, and a pum arran 'ed to return the overflow-liquid r0m saifovuriiow-chamber to said reservuir.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 4th day of January, 1907.

FREDERICK SCHMITT. JOHN W". NEUMANN. Witnesses:

G. A. PENNINGTQN, J. B. MEGOWN. 

